I'm a teacher in a middle school downtown right now; having had a very unfulfilling corporate job for my first two years out of college I hit the reset button and went to grad school for my elementary education masters/certification. One of the best decisions I've ever made.

I want to be clear that, while I'm not necessarily looking to jump into anything and I don't need to be in a relationship right away, that is what I'm looking for (whether it's on here or asking someone out in the "real world"). I've been burned by not being on the same page with girls I was dating as far as what we were each looking for, so I wanted to make sure I got that out of the way.

I'm a middle school teacher at a charter school in downtown KCMO (and wishing, based on my student demographics, that I had taken Spanish in college instead of German).

I'm an avid runner; I've done two full marathons and five half marathons in the past two years. I'm probably doing the KC Marathon again in Oct. 2013 but would love to do an out-of-town race (even though that's a terrible time of year for teachers to take time off).

Also on the list of life goals I've recently crossed off my list: home ownership. I am now the proud owner of my first house up in Northtown. I love it and my dog loves it, too.

I think I'm a pretty decent writer, good at remembering days and events (but not names for some reason), and I've been getting really good feedback on my cooking.

I can also use semicolons correctly and use words people usually only learn for the SAT verbal (not ostentatiously, though).

Ever since my last trip to Baltimore, I've been making pit beef pretty often, especially for Ravens playoff games. I've gotten pretty good at it; Google it and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Typically that I've just said something over-the-top dorky. Or that I'm one of about 5 men in a female-dominated profession (elementary teaching).

Oh, and I'm tall, at least some of my students say I am (they're tiny so that might need to be excused, although I think I am the tallest human being some of them have ever met, especially when I taught fourth and fifth grade).

Lately, though, it's the dog. He's pretty adorable.

War and Peace is probably my favorite novel, Glengarry Glen Ross my favorite play, and Johnny U: The Life and Times of Johnny Unitas or A Brief History of Time my favorite nonfiction. Also, I tore through the Harry Potter series in the summer of 2009 in about a week. Since then I've reread the series twice. Lately a lot of my reading has been children's and young adult novels so that I can be better at my job.

Favorite movie is either Primal Fear or 25th Hour. I also really dig Westerns; can't go wrong with The Searchers, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Unforgiven, True Grit (both the original and the remake) or the Man with No Name trilogy.

TV-wise I'm pretty hardcore about The Wire. I've seen the entire series at least four times. Seriously.

It would also be a shame if I didn't mention that I've spent most weekday afternoons in my life watching Jeopardy!.

Music is all over the place; concerts I've seen range from Social Distortion to Phoenix to Garth Brooks to Jurassic 5 to, most recently, the Watch the Throne Tour (Yeezy and Jeezy went, as they like to say, H.A.M.). I like so much stuff, it's easier just to say that I'm not into U2 or The Eagles (in the words of The Dude: I've had a long night and I hate the f**kin' Eagles).

I am madly in love with Brandi Carlile but I'm not her "type", which is pure cruelty.

Food: I'm a little bit picky and sometimes reticent to get out of my comfort zone; that said I have a lot of friends who are foodies and drag me kicking and screaming to new stuff that I genuinely enjoy (my first sushi experience and my first Ethiopian food experience were resounding successes). I like a lot of the guy-basics, burgers, pizza, steak, barbecue, wings, basically anything that goes well with beer. I also have some pretty decent cooking skills if you'd like to take me up on that...

Ravens football
My little sister
My family/friends
Netflix
iTunes
Omar, my dog
Old Bay (I know, that's seven, but still...have you had Old Bay Seasoning? Do you not realize that it's the greatest spice on Earth?)

Whether or not I'm really crazy enough to tack a third (or even fourth) college degree onto my resume. Second masters (TESOL, perhaps? Ed Spec?) or PhD (Counseling/Ed Psych)? Both, maybe?

Also, races that I have coming up. KC Marathon? Done! Now I just need to figure out how to improve my finish time.

Lately Fridays have been pretty slow; with marathon training Saturday mornings are typically the long run. Basically, if I want to succeed at that Saturday morning I can't drink Friday night. Don't want any dehydration issues interfering with those 17+ mile training runs.

However, if it's the day after Thanksgiving we're talking about then it's a holiday that I created known as Nakatomi Friday. Here's the deal: to celebrate the official start of the Christmas season I gather my friends together for chili, fellowship, and the greatest Christmas movie ever made: Die Hard. It grows in intensity every year and I've already been asked about the upcoming Nakatomi Friday.

I once read the Twilight series. It was to help one of my students, a struggling reader who wanted to read the series (and I had to make sure she was comprehending it) so I pushed my way through the books.

So not worth it.

There's something very appealing about a woman with her shit together (career, etc.). I'm at a point in my life where I've bought a house, gotten invested in a career, and adopted a dog. It'd be nice to date someone who also has it together.

Well, I guess if you're not turned off by my sarcasm and weird sense of humor I'll definitely be up for answering more questions and surrendering more info; also, if any of the following apply to you:

If you'd like to meet Omar.

If you're at a point in your life where you can (and want to) pursue a relationship.

If you're the type who would be willing to cuddle on the couch and watch Field of Dreams or D2: The Mighty Ducks when I've had a bad day.

If you think Ray Lewis didn't do it (or are willing to believe that he didn't do it).

If Jesus is a major part of your life.

If you'd like someone who would totally love to cook for you.

If you agree that Tastykakes are amazing.

If the word "lawyered" means anything to you.

If you have eaten, or would not be afraid to eat, food from east of Troost.

If you watch/yell at Jeopardy.

If talking for hours can be as much fun as going out on the town.

If you're a nonsmoker (smoking is probably my biggest dealbreaker).